The effort to recall State Sen. Gerald Van Woerkom and State Rep. Mary Valentine failed to get off the ground Monday, when the Muskegon County Election Commission voted unanimously to reject proposed petition language against both officials.

But the attorney representing the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance, which is behind the recall effort, predicted future success when he takes the effort to court.

Last month, the MTA announced that it was targeting 10 legislators from various parts of the state for recall because they supported the tax increase package that erased a $1.7 billion deficit and balanced the state budget in the early hours of Oct. 1.

Van Woerkom, R-Norton Shores, and Valentine, D-Norton Shores, were among those 10.
The recall petition language filed against Valentine said she should be removed from office because she "voted yes on 2007 House Bill 5194 to increase the income tax to 4.35 percent and voted yes on 2007 House Bill 5198 to impose new six percent taxes on certain services."

The recall petition language filed against Van Woerkom said he should be removed from office because he "voted yes on 2007 House Bill 5194 to increase the income tax to 4.35 percent."

For the complete story, return to mlive.com/chronicle on Tuesday, or pick up a copy of Tuesday's Muskegon Chronicle.